Raleigh, Sir Walter

Scribal copy of a letter written on the eve of his anticipated execution in 1603, together with a copy of his second testamentary note ("These words following he putt into his La: Pockitt the night by fore he was executid Charging hir nott to publish them by fore he was deade"), written in a mixed hand with italic used for emphasis on the rectos only of two leaves probably removed from a miscellany, two pages, folio (275 x 175 mm), c.1618; light spotting. Red morocco-backed folder.

Bonham's, 17-18 December 2002, lot 776

CELM RaW 730.8

Raleigh's moving letter to his wife was written when he was under sentence of death in 1603. Although the death sentence was commuted, he was incarcerated in the Tower until 1616. The second text copied here is a self-defence penned shortly before his execution in 1618, following the failure of his final expedition to the New World. When entitling this letter, the scribe refers to Raleigh's second fall as "now," suggesting that this manuscript dates to around 1618.